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Boris Johnson has said Britain must “step up, not step back” in the world’s trouble spots as he rammed home the message that Jeremy Corbyn is not the man to lead Britain through “this age of uncertainty”.

Mr Johnson, who will hit the campaign trail on Thursday for the first time since the snap election was called, also dropped a heavy hint that the Conservative manifesto will pledge to maintain the Government’s defence spending at 2 per cent of gross domestic product.

He warned that in such “uncertain and unstable times” Western ideals of freedom - which are “not irreversible” - would only prevail if “we stand up for them and act accordingly”. His comments are likely to lead to speculation that Parliament could be asked to vote on military action in Syria after the election.

Contrary to reports that Mr Johnson was being sidelined by Mrs May, he will make a round of television appearances on Thursday morning as the Government’s main spokesman on the election.

Boris JohnsonCredit:
Victoria Jones/PA Wire

He stuck to his foreign affairs brief in a speech at the Lord Mayor’s Banquet at Mansion House in London on Wednesday, saying: “In recent years we have seen an increase in the global tally of deaths from wars. We and our allies face threats from countries with a nuclear weapons capacity, and from those trying to acquire that capacity.

“For the first time for many years, some countries are trying to change European borders, not by agreement, but by force. And, as we have seen across Europe in recent months, we face a continued battle against terrorism and the hateful ideology of Islamic extremism.

“These are uncertain and unstable times. Britain needs to help manage them in a serious and clear-sighted way.”

Mr Johnson’s speech contained no direct reference to Mr Corbyn, but played on the Labour leader’s long-held views on nuclear disarmament when he said: “There can be no more important task for a Government than to keep people safe – and we must be prepared to do everything necessary to do so.

“It is why the Prime Minister made it a priority when she took office last year to ensure the renewal of Britain’s crucial independent nuclear deterrent and to lead the debate in Parliament.”

He added: “That is where leadership comes in. Clear leadership to navigate this age of uncertainty. We are determined to provide that leadership, to give people the security and certainty they need.”

Mr Corbyn’s weak leadership has been a constant refrain from the Conservatives during the election, and he was attacked again at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday by Theresa May, who said he was “unfit to lead”.

In a clear reference to Mr Corbyn’s unwillingness to use nuclear weapons, Mr Johnson said: “The benign environment of the last two decades has maybe led to a certain complacency, a readiness to see the best in others, rather than the threats they pose.”

Jeremy Corbyn says he will not use nuclear weapons, which are triggered on board Royal Navy submarinesCredit:
PA

Mr Johnson signalled that defence spending will be a key part of the manifesto by saying: “Under this Government, Britain is one of only five countries in NATO to meet its commitment to spend 2 per cent of GDP on defence, making us the second military power in NATO... indeed at this very moment, we have British military missions of one kind or another in 33 countries and territories around the world,from Belize to Brunei, from Kenya to Nepal.”

He added: “As we look forward, now is not the time to step back, but to step up.”

He said freedoms could only be protected if “we stop spending time signalling our own virtue, and put more effort into working to affect real events”.

Turning to the Brexit negotiations, Mr Johnson said: “Though I have no doubt that the negotiations will be tough and some plaster may fall off the ceiling, I am also sure that Theresa May can pull it off, and usher in a new era of free trade deals.

“Indeed we intend to be the foremost campaigner for global free trade, so all our companies and all Britain’s people can benefit.”